CSTO rules out possibility of using its Collective Force in Ukraine - Secretariat

MOSCOW, April 08, /ITAR-TASS/. The Collective Security Treaty Organization cannot use its Collective Rapid Reaction Force in the territory of Ukraine because Ukraine is not a CSTO member, the CSTO secretariat said on Tuesday.

The explanation followed a remark made by Kyrgyz parliament deputy Tursunbai Bakir who allegedly said it was possible to use the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Force for settling Ukraine’s internal crisis.

“Ukraine is not a CSTO member, and the use of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force in its territory is impossible under the existing Agreement on the Collective Rapid Reaction Force singed on June 14, 2009,” Vladimir Zainetdinov, the CSTO press secretary, told Itar-Tass.

“Any decision to use the Collective Rapid Reaction Force should be taken by the CSTO Collective Security Council on the basis of consensus and consent from all CSTO member states,” Zainetdinov emphasized.